Shedding light on vitamin D in tuberculosis: A comprehensive review of clinical trials and discrepancies.

Over the past few decades, there has been extensive research on the use of vitamin D as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis. In vitro studies have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms by which vitamin D activates the immune response to combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These encouraging findings have spurred clinical investigations globally to assess the effectiveness of vitamin D as a preventive measure and as an adjunctive treatment for tuberculosis. However, the results from these clinical studies have been contradictory, with some demonstrating clear efficacy while others report only modest or no activity. In this review, we aim to analyze the clinical studies on vitamin D and examine the possible discrepancies observed in their outcomes.

Factores de riesgo psicosociales y ambientales asociados a trastornos mentales / Psychosocial and environmental risk factors associated with mental disorders

En Colombia, son escasos los estudios sobre la asociación de los factores psicosociales y medioambientales con trastornos mentales de mayor prevalencia; tales estudios son necesarios debido al contexto de violencia, inseguridad social e inestabilidad laboral y económica del país. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los factores de riesgo psicosociales y ambientales de los trastornos mentales, en los usuarios de servicios de psicología de Colombia. Para ello, se aplicaron el Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview y un cuestionario de evaluación del Eje IV del DSM-IV-TR, a 490 participantes. Se utilizaron análisis descriptivos y de factores de riesgo. Como factor de riesgo para la depresión, se identificaron los problemas de vivienda, acceso a los servicios de asistencia sanitaria, los relativos al grupo primario, los económicos, del ambiente social y los problemas laborales. Para la ansiedad generalizada se identificaron los problemas económicos y los relativos a la enseñanza. Para los trastornos de pánico, fueron relevantes los problemas relacionados con el ambiente social, y para la fobia social, los problemas de enseñanza, los laborales y el ambiente social.

In Colombia, there are few studies on the association of psychosocial and environmental factors with the most prevalent mental disorders; such studies are important due to the context of violence, social insecurity, and job and economic instability in the country. The objective of this study was to identify the psychosocial and environmental risk factors for mental disorders, in users of psychologicalservices in Colombia. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and a Questionnaire to evaluate the Axis-IV of the DSM-IV-TR were applied to 490 participants.The analysis comprised descriptive statistics and risk factors. As riskfactors for depression, there were identified housing problems, access to health care services, problems related to the primary group, economics, problems of the social environment, and labor. For generalized anxiety, there were identified economic and education issues. For panic disorders, the risk factors were related to social environment, and for social phobia, the risk factors were problems in education,work and social environment.

Subjetivación de la experiencia violenta en el transtorno por estrés postraumático / Subjectivation of the experience of violence in upheaval by post-traumatic stress

A través de este estudio, se buscó estabelecer el estado de salud mental de las personas víctimas de violencia armada en el departamento del Chocó (Colombia). Específicamente se buscó comprender el modo en que se ha subjetivado o ha sido integrada psíquicamente la experiencia violenta. La metodología es el de estudio de caso. El estudio es particularista y descriptivo se basó en el razonamiento inductivo a partir del manejo de datos que para el caso provienen de entrevistas clínicas puesta al servicio de la investigación. La mirada cualitativa del problemas indica que el narcisismo protege al sujeto de la experiencia de muerte real implicado en el trauma por violencia, la lógica paranoide se establece en relación al otro, y el repliegue sobre el núcleo familiar se da como consecuencia de estos dos aspectos (AU)

Salud mental en víctimas de la violencia armada en Bojayá (Chocó, Colombia) / Mental Health Among Victims of the Armed Conflict in Bojayá (Chocó, Colombia)

Objetivo: Establecer el estado de salud mental de las víctimas de la violencia armada en Bojayá. Método: Descripción de trastornos mentales asociados con la experiencia vivida el 2 de mayo de 2002 en Bojayá, donde en un enfrentamiento armado murieron 119 personas y 98 resultaron heridas. Estudio de tipo analítico de casos y controles. Muestra no aleatoria de 40 civiles adultos, promedio de 35 años; 21 permanecían desplazados en Quibdó (Chocó) y 19 retornaron a Bojayá. Grupo casos conformado por 15 personas expuestas con trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), y grupo control con 25 sin TEPT. Se empleó la mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) un año después de los hechos. Resultados: 37% de los participantes presentó TEPT (todos retornaron a Bojayá). Los trastornos que mostraron mayor asociación con el TEPT (grupo casos) fueron la fobia social (p=0,001, RD 26,29) y trastornos por angustia (TA): TA actual (p=0,008, RD 15,33), TA alguna vez (p=0,019, RD 8,25) y agorafobia sin historia de angustia (p=0,024, RD 11,50). Sin diferencias significativas entre los grupos, el porcentaje fue alto en depresión mayor (DM) (37% casos y 38% controles), riesgo de suicidio (37% y 62%, respectivamente), trastorno de ansiedad generalizada (TAG) (47% y 38%, respectivamente). Conclusiones: Son frecuentes el TEPT, el TAG, el DM y el riesgo suicidio en las víctimas de violencia armada. Los trastornos por angustia y la fobia social pueden considerarse factores de riesgo al TEPT.

Purpose: To describe the mental health status of victims of an armed combat in the state of Chocó (Colombia). Method: A description of the mental disorders associated with a traumatic experience lived on May 2nd 2002 (Bojayá township- Colombia), as a conse– quence of an armed confrontation, resulting in 119 persons dead and 98 injured. Analytic level methodology, with case control design, was used. A non random sample of 40 civilian adults, mean age 35 years, was studied. Of these, 19 persons returned to their place of origin and 21 persons remained in Quibdó (state capital) were evaluated. The case group consisted of a total of 15 persons with Post– traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the control group included 25 persons without PTSD diagnosis. The instrument used for evaluation was the structured interview pro– tocol M.I.N.I applied one year after the tragic event. Results: Disorders that showed greater association with PTSD were: Social Phobia (p=0.001, OR 26.29), Actual Panic Disorder (p=0.008, OR 15.33), Occasional Panic Disor– der (p=0.019, OR 8.25), and Agoraphobia without Panic History (p=0.024, OR=11.50). The prevalence of was high for the following disorders, without significant differences between groups: Major Depression (MD) (37% cases and 38% controls), Suicide Risk (37% y 62% respectively), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (47% and 38% respectively). Conclusions: Victims of armed violence who suffer PTSD are at high risk of presenting other anxiety disorders such as social pho- bias, GAD, and panic attacks.

Subjetivación de la experiencia violenta en el transtorno por estrés postraumático / Subjectivation of the experience of violence in upheaval by post-traumatic stress

A través de este estudio, se buscó estabelecer el estado de salud mental de las personas víctimas de violencia armada en el departamento del Chocó (Colombia). Específicamente se buscó comprender el modo en que se ha subjetivado o ha sido integrada psíquicamente la experiencia violenta. La metodología es el de estudio de caso. El estudio es particularista y descriptivo se basó en el razonamiento inductivo a partir del manejo de datos que para el caso provienen de entrevistas clínicas puesta al servicio de la investigación. La mirada cualitativa del problemas indica que el narcisismo protege al sujeto de la experiencia de muerte real implicado en el trauma por violencia, la lógica paranoide se establece en relación al otro, y el repliegue sobre el núcleo familiar se da como consecuencia de estos dos aspectos.

Treatment considerations for comminuted mandibular fractures.

PURPOSE: We sought to assess the methods of treatment used and outcomes for a large sample of patients with comminuted fractures of the mandible. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of all patients who were identified as having comminuted fractures of the mandible over a 10-year period with sufficient follow-up were collected and analyzed for demographic information, treatment rendered, and outcomes. Standard descriptive statistics and nonparametric statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients (167 males and 29 females) with 198 comminuted fractures met the inclusion criteria. The mandibular body was the most commonly affected region. Approximately half were sustained in altercations. Gunshot wounds created fractures that were more comminuted than other causes. The comminuted regions were treated by closed reduction and maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) in 35 fractures, open reduction with stable internal fixation in 146 fractures, and 17 were treated with external pin fixation. For those patients treated with open reduction, a single reconstruction bone plate was used in the majority of cases (114). For those patients treated open, 98 were treated using an intraoral approach and 52 were treated using an extraoral approach. The mean follow-up was 140.6 days. Complications occurred in 26 fractures (13%). The complications were malocclusion in 8 fractures and nonocclusal (ie, infection, nonunion, etc) in 18 fractures. There was a statistically significant relationship between the development of complications and the degree of fragmentation (P <.05). There was also a significant relationship between treatment and the development of complications (P <.05). Patients treated with external pin fixation had a 35.2% complication rate compared with a 17.1% complication rate for patients undergoing closed treatment with MMF, or patients treated with open reduction and stable internal fixation (10.3%). However, patients treated with external pin fixation had more severe injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that, when possible, the use of open reduction and stable internal fixation is associated with a low complication rate. However, not all comminuted fractures are amenable to this treatment, and in those, alternatives such as closed reduction with MMF or the application of external pin fixation may be necessary.

C-type lectins DC-SIGN and L-SIGN mediate cellular entry by Ebola virus in cis and in trans.

Ebola virus is a highly lethal pathogen responsible for several outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever. Here we show that the primate lentiviral binding C-type lectins DC-SIGN and L-SIGN act as cofactors for cellular entry by Ebola virus. Furthermore, DC-SIGN on the surface of dendritic cells is able to function as a trans receptor, binding Ebola virus-pseudotyped lentiviral particles and transmitting infection to susceptible cells. Our data underscore a role for DC-SIGN and L-SIGN in the infective process and pathogenicity of Ebola virus infection.